This is about more than just jumping into cold water. This is about creating a space where every student feels seen, valued, and included.”

Hastings Principal Scott Doran

We are freezing for a reason. That reason is inclusion.”

Jack Bainbridge

Hastings High School
200 Siebens Dr.
Hastings, MN 55033
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It started with a spark of an idea, a simple conversation among teachers who believed their school could do more. On a cool spring morning, that idea became a reality as Hastings High School hosted its first-ever Polar Plunge, raising over $9,000 to support Special Olympics Minnesota and the school’s growing inclusion programs. The event drew nearly 90 participants, including students, staff, and community members, all united by one purpose: to celebrate and promote inclusion for students of all abilities.
“This is about more than just jumping into cold water,” Principal Scott Doran said, standing near the mobile plunge trailer parked in the school’s lot. “This is about creating a space where every student feels seen, valued, and included.”
A movement in the making
The seeds of this event were planted a few years ago when the school began reflecting on its inclusion efforts, or as Doran put it, the “lack thereof.” Hastings High wanted to ensure students with intellectual and developmental disabilities had the same opportunities as their peers. That commitment led to the formation of a passionate team of teachers, the introduction of a unified physical education class, and the establishment of the Best Buddies program.
Serina Stokke, a special education teacher and one of the event’s key organizers, explained how the idea for the Polar Plunge came about.
“We’ve been working closely with Special Olympics, and they suggested bringing the plunge to Hastings. It was a no-brainer,” she said, still energized from her own dive into the icy waters. “It’s such a fun way to raise money and awareness for inclusion.”
This wasn’t just any Polar Plunge. The event featured a mobile plunge trailer, designed specifically for schools and communities that might not have access to a frozen lake. John Weeding, representing Special Olympics Minnesota, explained how the trailer worked.
“We fill it with fresh water, either brought in from a fire department or by a local trucking company,” he said. For the Hastings event, the local fire department filled the trailer with 2,500 gallons of water, topped off with buckets of ice to ensure the authentic “plunge” experience.
Special Olympics Minnesota’s mobile plunge program has grown rapidly, with nearly 60 mobile events scheduled this year alone, up from about 40 the previous year. The addition of these trailers has significantly boosted fundraising efforts, generating over $800,000 statewide this year.
Building buzz, building community
The idea of jumping into cold water might make some people shiver, but at Hastings High, the buzz was undeniable. What began as a small group of Best Buddies and unified PE students rallying around the cause quickly spread throughout the school.
“At first, it was the core group, about 20 to 30 students who were deeply involved,” said Stokke. “But then word got out. Friends invited friends, parents encouraged their kids, and suddenly we had 84 plungers signed up.”
In just the last 48 hours before the event, the fundraising total surged from $3,000 to $9,000. “The kids got so excited,” Doran shared, “they were tracking the donations like it was a game, watching the thermometer go up and up. It’s an incredible testament to this community.”
That sense of community wasn’t just limited to the school. The event was open to local residents as well, and a few brave souls from outside the school joined the plunge. Stokke hopes this is just the beginning. “Next year, we want even more community involvement, maybe get local businesses on board, make it a bigger event for Hastings.”
Freezing for a reason
Before the first jumper hit the water, students Jack Bainbridge and Kaelynn Englin, leaders in the school’s inclusion movement, spoke passionately to the gathered crowd.
“We are freezing for a reason,” Bainbridge announced, his voice steady and full of purpose. “That reason is inclusion.”
Englin, the president of the Best Buddies Club, echoed that sentiment. “We want this momentum to carry on, not just today, but through the rest of the year. It takes all of us.”
Their message was clear: students with intellectual disabilities are at higher risk of being bullied and excluded. This event was about more than fundraising; it was about changing that reality, creating a school environment where every student feels like they belong.
Stokke followed with a powerful call to action.
“Inclusion is a choice we make every day,” she said. “It’s in the words we use, the way we treat each other, the actions we take when we see someone being excluded. We can all do better.”
A new tradition begins
The plunges began around 9:30 AM, with students, teachers, and even Doran himself taking turns braving the chilly water. Many dressed up in costumes, from animal onesies to wacky accessories, adding a lighthearted spirit to the serious mission.
For some, like Kaelynn Englin, it wasn’t their first plunge of the day. “I jumped twice!” she said with a grin. “The first time was shocking, I came up gasping, but the second time was better. Honestly, it’s one of the best experiences I’ve ever had.”
Englin wasn’t alone in her excitement. Sara Stenger, the school’s social worker, also took the plunge alongside her colleagues.
“It warms your heart to see this kind of support,” she said, reflecting on the day’s events. “As someone who works closely with students who sometimes feel left out, seeing the whole school come together like this, it’s just incredible.”
Stenger, who donned an animal onesie for her jump, described the moment with a laugh. “I’ve done a Polar Plunge in Lake Michigan before, right on New Year’s Day. That was brutal. This? This was a breeze in comparison,” she said. “But don’t get me wrong, when you hit that water, it takes your breath away.”
Principal Doran, who joined staff and students in the plunge, shared his own humorous take on the experience. “Honestly, standing out there in line, shivering in the drizzle, might have been worse than the actual jump,” he joked. “But that water still gives you a jolt.”
Even veteran plungers felt the chill. John Weeding from Special Olympics Minnesota, who has seen countless plunges, explained, “We always get a mix of reactions, some people come out yelling, others laughing, some just gasping. But the smiles afterward are always the same.”
One student, not named, summed it up perfectly after resurfacing: “It was colder than I expected, but I’d do it again in a heartbeat.”
The plunge was made a little more bearable thanks to the slightly warmer-than-lake temperatures, fire department water instead of a frozen lake, but no one seemed to mind. As another participant joked, “Cold is cold.”
For Doran, the event exceeded every expectation. “This is year one, and we raised nine grand,” he said. “I can’t wait to see what we do next year. We’ll keep building on this.”
Looking ahead, the hope is to hold the plunge earlier in the year, maybe in the heart of winter for a more traditional experience. “We’re talking December or January,” Stokke hinted. “We’re already excited to start planning.”
The power of inclusion
The success of Hastings High School’s first Polar Plunge is a testament to what can happen when a school community comes together around a shared goal. It’s not just about the money raised or the number of participants, it’s about fostering a culture where every student feels included, respected, and supported.
As Bainbridge said in his speech, “We are the unified generation.” With the enthusiasm and commitment shown at Hastings, that generation is well on its way to making inclusion the norm, not the exception.